Progressively Speaking: Is Israel’s Nation-State bill against its Declaration of Independence?
Rabbi Neil Janes takes a topical issue and looks at a progressive Jewish response
“Being a free people in our land” brings with it responsibility for its democratic functions and Jewish character in equal measure.
The Declaration of Independence describes the journey towards May 1948 and the vision for the nascent Jewish state known as Israel.
Its power rests in the aspirations the Jewish people have for self-determination in the face of thousands of years of exile, continuing settlement in the land and devastating events of the 20th century. A vision of democracy and Judaism hand-in-hand.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
The narrative behind the new Nation-State bill is different. It downgrades the role of the Arabic language and appears to give a green light to single ethnic and religious groups to create communal settlements to the exclusion of others. And that is besides other complex issues of how minority groups are regarded.
On the one hand, there is a vision of Israeli Jewish culture being more important than anything else, be it Jewish culture in the diaspora or culture of other minority groups in Israel. At the same time, the vision is one of a perceived existential internal threat destabilising the Jewish character, leading to cultural insecurity.
Good laws should be set within a vision of how the world might be and how it should be. My vision for the state is not one wrought up in confusion of its own significance, with an inferiority complex and where rampant religious and ethno-centrism permits the establishment of mono-ethnic/religious communal settlements and even the suggestion of lesser status of minority groups.
Rather, the democratic vision of the Declaration of Independence must be more compelling. As Reform Zionist educator Dr Michael Livni wrote: “The realisation of the idea of the Jewish state… is the task of committed social process, of community and perhaps of… communities based on free will and conscious of their Zionist Shlichut (mission).”
υ Neil Janes is rabbi at West London Synagogue
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)